Car-coupling



(No Model.)

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V INVENTOR.

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IlNiTnn STATES ATENT FITIICE.

KENADA SMITH, OF VEST MANCHESTER, OHIO.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,631, dated May 13, 1884.

I Application filed February 11, 1884. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENADA SMITH, a citizen-of the United States, and a resident of West Manchester, in the county of Preble and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in whieh- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the draw -heads of my improved car-coupling. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing two of the draw-heads coupled together with their connecting-link.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to so-called automatic cancouplings, or that class of couplings which will couple themselves without requiring the brakenian to go between the cars for the purpose of effecting the coupling; and it consists in the detailed construction and combination of parts of the self-coupler which will be hereinafter more fully described an claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotesthe draw-head, which may be of any desired shape and construction, with or without bumpers or buffers, according to the style of car for which the coupling is to be used.

In the open front end of the draw-head are two posts, B-one on each side-which are inserted through the sleeves G of plates D, the free ends of which are bent, as shown at E, to form a rounded part or shoulder, I inside the drawhead, the "bent part E projecting out through slots G in the sides of the draw-head. The sides of the latter, back of the posts or pintles B, are beveled, as shown at H, to permit of the play of the side plates, D, in coupling and uncoupling the cars.

I I are coiled springs, which are placed be tween the sides of the draw-head to which they are fastened, bearing with their free ends against the inside of the bulge or shoulder F of plates D. Thus it will be seen thatthese springs operate to force the shoulders FF against or toward each other inside of the draw-head, and by pulling upon the projecting ends D of plates D the springs I will be compressed, so as to permit the arrow-head J of the coupling-bar K to slip past the shoulders F F, with which it engages when the cars are coupled. This manipulation of the holdingplates D, E F may be effected either from the platform of the car or from the sides or roof by chains and levers connecting the projecting free ends of the plates with any suitable means or mechanism for operating them.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of my improved automatic car-coupling will readily be understood without further explanation. The link or coupling bar J K being inserted into one of the draw-heads, it will couple itself with the opposite draw-head of the next car as the cars are shoved together on the track, and the uncoupling may be readily effected, when desired, and in a moment of time, by pulling upon the projecting ends D of the coupling-plates D E Fin the manner described.

If desired, one or both ends of the arrowheaded coupling-bar may be bored through, and holes may be also made in the top and bottom of the draw-head, as indicated at L in the drawings, whereby the device may be used,

if desired, with an ordinary coupling link and I for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KENADA SMITH.

Witnesses:

J onn Wnnrs, LEVI erms. 

